Written Answers Wednesday 28 January 2009

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what scientific advice it has taken on the effects on invertebrates of pesticides used in farming.

Richard Lochhead: We must recognise that invertebrates make up around 98 per cent of Scotland’s animal species, and within that broad category are many species which can either be beneficial or harmful to farming. However, all pesticides used in the UK are strictly regulated and, before being approved for use, are scientifically assessed for their potential risk to the environment. This includes a risk assessment to invertebrates. The independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides provides scientific advice to the Scottish Government on all aspects of pesticides, including their effects on invertebrates.

Agriculture

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has on the relationship between the use of pesticides and the decline in bee populations.

Richard Lochhead: I am not aware of any evidence which proves a causal link between the use of pesticides and the decline in bee populations. That decline has been fairly recent, whereas insecticides have been used for many years with a fairly static usage pattern.

Agriculture

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what scientific advice it has received on finding organic means to combat crop damage.

Richard Lochhead: We receive scientific advice on topics relating to crop health from the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) and from Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA). Non-chemical control measures under investigation to reduce the impact of pests and diseases include rotations, time of sowing, use of genetic resistance including the use of variety mixtures, more durable host defence, and crop characteristics which enable plants to tolerate or escape the disease

Agriculture

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the Soil Association to discuss alternatives to the commercial pesticides of which the European Parliament has agreed to restrict the use.

Richard Lochhead: We have not met the Soil Association to discuss this matter. It is not yet known whether currently-available pesticides will become unavailable in future. Decisions will only be taken as individual products are assessed for re-authorisation when their current authorisations expire. That process will take some years.

Alcohol Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many crimes of being drunk and disorderly have been recorded against people aged (a) under 15, (b) 15 to 18, (c) 19 to 21 and (d) over 21 in the Lothians region in each month since January 2008, broken down by local authority area.

Kenny MacAskill: Information on the number of crimes recorded by the police is reported on an annual basis and it is not possible to provide information on a monthly basis. This data is returned in an aggregate format containing no information on individuals, meaning we cannot provide any information relating to age.

  The following table shows the number of crimes of being drunk and disorderly for each of the Lothians regions and Scotland for financial year 2007-08. This is the latest year for which published information is available.

  Number of Drunk and Disorderly Crimes Recorded, Lothians and Scotland, 2007-08

  

 Offence
 City of Edinburgh
 East Lothian
 Midlothian
 West Lothian
 All Lothians
 All Scotland


 Drunk and incapable and habitual drunkenness
 89
 6
 14
 12
 121
 5,506


 Drunk in charge of a child
 13
 1
 1
 2
 17
 104


 Drunk and attempting to enter licensed premises
 13
 1
 0
 4
 18
 156


 Drunk or drinking in unlicensed premises
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 60


 Disorderly on licensed premises
 86
 4
 2
 8
 100
 545


 Drunk in or attempting to enter designated sports ground
 8
 0
 0
 0
 8
 331


 Total
 209
 12
 17
 26
 264
 6,702

Ambulance Service

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions air ambulance aircraft have been grounded due to staff shortages in each of the last six months.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) has advised that, due to short notice sickness absence, there were five occasions over the last six months when one air ambulance aircraft has been grounded. On these occasions, the remaining three aircraft were in operation. The SAS have advised that no requests for an air ambulance were declined due to the unavailability of the aircraft on the five occasions in question.

Autism

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) under 18 and (b) 18 and over are recorded as having a condition on the autistic spectrum, broken down by local authority area.

Shona Robison: People with autism spectrum disorder are most likely to be diagnosed in an out-patient clinic and managed in the community or general practice. Diagnostic information for patients attending outpatient clinics is not available centrally.

  However, data on pupils with autism in state funded schools, identified in the 2007 census, is available in tables 1.7 and 1.9 in the statistical bulletin on the government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/07/28100032/0.

  Data on pupils with autism in the independent sector in 2007 is available in tables 1.4 and 1.6 in the Independent School Census, September 2007, on the government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/04/29101007/0.

Cancer

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Medicines Consortium will adopt the same cost per quality adjusted life year threshold for cancer drugs as recently proposed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) is considering the implications for Scotland of the NICE methodology changes for appraising end of life drugs. However, the SMC already has the ability to exercise considerable flexibility.

  The SMC assesses the cost per quality adjusted life year (QALY) of new drugs as part of its appraisal of health benefits. However, the SMC does not employ a rigid threshold in appraising drugs.

  There is a two stage appraisal process. This involves a rapid assessment of the evidence by the New Drugs Committee (NDC) to provide a recommendation about the costs and benefits of using the medicine. This is followed by the SMC appraisal which looks again at the evidence together with the NDC advice, the case put forward by the patient interest groups and the company’s response to the NDC advice.

  This approach ensures the SMC can consider all drugs flexibly, taking account of wider considerations as well as the economic evidence provided.

Central Heating Programme

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new applications have been (a) received and (b) accepted for a free central heating system in the KY postcode area in each month since July 2005.

Stewart Maxwell: The information is only available from October 2006 when Scottish Gas was appointed as the managing agent. Scottish Gas has provided the following details, for the KY postcode area, on the number of applications received and the number of applications accepted, subject to survey, in each month since October 2006, in the following table:

  

Month of Application
Number of Applications
 Accepted Subject to Survey


 October 2006
 164
 119


 November 2006
 338
 209


 December 2006
 139
 80


 January 2007
 136
 101


 February 2007
 116
 77


 March 2007
 137
 101


 April 2007
 166
 136


 May 2007
 170
 136


 June 2007
 147
 132


 July 2007
 162
 120


 August 2007
 174
 141


 September 2007
 121
 114


 October 2007
 196
 124


 November 2007
 155
 122


 December 2007
 74
 63


 January 2008
 151
 130


 February 2008
 142
 106


 March 2008
 166
 124


 April 2008
 164
 134


 May 2008
 153
 109


 June 2008
 61
 16


 July 2008
 60
 23


 August 2008
 51
 22


 September 2008
 72
 29


 October 2008
 95
 10


 November 2008
 182
 135


 December 2008
 568
 303


 Total
 4,260
 2,916



  Note: An initial assessment is made at the application stage (normally by telephone) and those applications are recorded as accepted, subject to survey.

Central Heating Programme

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been on the waiting list for a free central heating system in the KY postcode area in each month since July 2005.

Stewart Maxwell: The information is only available from October 2006 when Scottish Gas was appointed as the managing agent. Scottish Gas has provided the following details for the KY postcode area, on the number of applicants on the waiting list in each month since October 2006, in the following table:

  

 Month of Application
 Number of Applicants on Waiting List


 October 2006
 119


 November 2006
 314


 December 2006
 384


 January 2007
 477


 February 2007
 489


 March 2007
 477


 April 2007
 456


 May 2007
 461


 June 2007
 449


 July 2007
 517


 August 2007
 567


 September 2007
 592


 October 2007
 617


 November 2007
 650


 December 2007
 636


 January 2008
 558


 February 2008
 552


 March 2008
 509


 April 2008
 520


 May 2008
 516


 June 2008
 420


 July 2008
 306


 August 2008
 282


 September 2008
 193


 October 2008
 175


 November 2008
 226


 December 2008
 235

Community Service Orders

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of community service orders begins (a) within seven days, (b) between eight and 14 days, (c) between 15 and 21 days, (d) between 22 and 28 days, (e) between 29 days and two months, (f) more than two and up to six months and (g) more than six months after sentencing, broken down by local authority.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of orders commences (a) immediately, (b) within seven days, (c) eight to 14 days, (d) 15 to 21 days, (e) 22 to 28 days, (f) 29 days to two months, (g) more than two and up to six months and (h) more than six months after completion of a health and safety induction, broken down by local authority.

Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally. The National Objectives and Standards for Social Work Services in the Criminal Justice System, which are currently being revised, will require offenders sentenced to community service to commence work within seven working days of the order being imposed by the court in most circumstances.

  To measure the impact of the additional £1 million funding being made available to Community Justice Authorities from 2009-10, for the delivery of speedier and more immediate community penalties, it is intended to carry out an early audit of current timescales for the start of placements and to repeat the exercise 12 months later.

Community Service Orders

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it distinguishes between the start of a community service order induction period and the start of the work to be carried out in official monitoring records.

Kenny MacAskill: Normal practice is for time spent by an offender on induction to count towards the total number of hours specified by the court as constituting the community service order.

Concessionary Travel

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that bus operators comply with the rules and regulations of the national concessionary travel scheme.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland undertakes a regular programme of audit inspections to examine the claims for reimbursement submitted by operators. Transport Scotland also conducts on-bus surveys to collect information on the operation of the scheme, including details of cardholders’ journeys. If discrepancies are found, the reimbursement to the operator is adjusted accordingly.

Concessionary Travel

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that bus operators submit correct information on the revenue forgone or average fare element of their travel claims under the national concessionary travel scheme.

Stewart Stevenson: Every concessionary travel claim submitted to Transport Scotland is subject to a robust system of checks and analysis. Transport Scotland undertakes a regular programme of audit inspections to examine the claim compilation and submission procedures used by operators. They also carry out checks on the detailed information behind the claims which is available from the operators’ ticketing systems and undertake on-bus surveys. The information collected is used to analyse the revenue foregone or average fare data submitted in the operators’ claims.

Concessionary Travel

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why some bus operators do not have to record boarding and alighting points when submitting claims for concessionary travel.

Stewart Stevenson: When the Scotland-wide Free Bus Travel Scheme was introduced, it was agreed in consultation with the Confederation of Passenger Transport (the industry representative body) that operators would continue to submit claims using the procedures for reimbursement used under the previous local authority schemes.

Concessionary Travel

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to require bus operators to record the origin and destination of journeys under the national concessionary travel scheme.

Stewart Stevenson: This is one of a number of issues being considered as part of the review of the Scotland-Wide Free Bus Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled People. The review is nearing completion and has been looking at how the scheme could be improved.

Dentistry

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of children received a dental check-up (a) on entry to primary school, (b) in primary seven and (c) at secondary school in line with the National Dental Inspection Programme, broken down by local authority.

Shona Robison: Information regarding the percentage of children that received a basic dental inspection is not available broken down by local authority.

  Information, however, is available for primary 1 and primary 7 children by NHS board in tables 6 and 7 of part 2, Basic Inspection, in the National Dental Inspection Programme of Scotland Report of the 2007 survey of P7 children which can be found at http://www.scottishdental.org/index.aspx?o=2233.

  National Dental Inspections are only carried out in local authority primary schools, therefore information is not available for secondary schools.

Drink-Driving

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were arrested for drink-driving offences in the south of Scotland and how many of these were (a) first-time and (b) repeat offenders in each of the last five years for which information is available, broken down by police force.

Kenny MacAskill: Information on the number of arrests made by the police is not held centrally.

  Figures for drink driving convictions alone are not available. The following tables provide information relating to drink/drug driving convictions.

  Persons1 with a Charge Proved for Drink/Drug-Driving Related Offences2: Breakdown by Year, Police Force Area3 and whether or not First-Time Offenders4

  

 Police Force Area
 Number of all Offenders
 Percentage of First-Time Offenders
 Percentage of Repeat Offenders


 2002-03
 
 
 


 Lothian and Borders 
 1,568
 92
 8


 Strathclyde 
 3,510
 93
 7


 Dumfries and Galloway
 220
 94
 6


 Total
 5,298
 93
 7


 2003-04
 
 
 


 Lothian and Borders 
 1,269
 94
 6


 Strathclyde 
 2,993
 93
 7


 Dumfries and Galloway
 252
 96
 4


 Total
 4,514
 93
 7


 2004-05
 
 
 


 Lothian and Borders 
 1,256
 92
 8


 Strathclyde 
 3,065
 92
 8


 Dumfries and Galloway
 240
 93
 7


 Total
 4,561
 92
 8


 2005-06
 
 
 


 Lothian and Borders 
 1,255
 91
 9


 Strathclyde 
 3,142
 90
 10


 Dumfries and Galloway
 245
 95
 5


 Total
 4,642
 91
 9


 2006-07
 
 
 


 Lothian and Borders 
 1,158
 91
 9


 Strathclyde 
 3,253
 89
 11


 Dumfries and Galloway
 267
 92
 8


 Total
 4,678
 90
 10



  Notes:

  1. Each person who was convicted of such an offence in 2006-07 is counted only once.

  2. Where main offence.

  3. The South of Scotland constituency area does not exactly correspond to a full police force area. The South of Scotland constituency covers all of Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary, part of Lothian and Borders Police force area and part of Strathclyde Police force area.

  4. "First-time offenders" relates to those individuals who were sentenced on one occasion for an offence of this type in the financial year considered and had no other convictions for an offences of this type in the last 10 years (e.g. 1997-98 to 2006-07 for the year 2006-07). "Repeat offenders" contains everyone whose most recent conviction in the financial year considered was not the only one of this type they had committed in the last 10 years. Repeat offenders are identified by their offender reference number; note that the ability to record and maintain unique reference numbers over time has increased over the last 10 years.

Extradition Act 2003

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence must be presented in court by those seeking the extradition of Scottish citizens under the terms of the Extradition Act 2003.

Kenny MacAskill: Extradition relations with category 1 territories are governed by Part 1 of the Extradition Act 2003. Part 1 implemented the Framework Decision on the European Arrest Warrant (EAW). The decision on extradition under Part 1 is entirely a judicial function and the Scottish ministers have no role in these proceedings.

  Extradition relations with category two territories, are set out in Part 2 of the Extradition Act 2003. Category 2 territories are certain, designated, non-EU countries.

  Part 1 Requests (European Arrest Warrant)

  The Extradition Act 2003 requires surrender of an individual under an EAW for an extradition offence. That is defined as either a crime that requires to meet the test of dual criminality or is one of the framework list offences. If it is the former, the EAW must contain a description of the facts of the criminal conduct that constitutes the offence and a legal definition. The Scottish court must be satisfied that criminal conduct if it had occurred in Scotland would be a crime known to the law of Scotland before it can be satisfied it is an extradition offence under the Extradition Act 2003. This is the dual criminality test.

  If it is a framework list offence there is no requirement for such a test/conversion to be undertaken as it is recognised that across EU member states these crimes have a commonality of criminal conduct, such as murder, rape and fraud.

  No evidence is required to be produced by the issuing judicial authority in support of request to surrender a person under the Extradition Act 2003.

  The Scottish ministers have no role in the execution of EAWs.

  Part 2 Requests

  Where an extradition request is made in the approved way the Scottish ministers must issue a certificate to that effect. This certificate and certain accompanying documents are then sent to the Sheriff at Lothian and Borders in order to allow an extradition hearing to take place.

  The court at the first appearance of the individual must be satisfied the Scottish ministers have sent: the extradition request, particulars of the person whose extradition is requested, particulars of the offence, and either a warrant to arrest issued in the requesting state or a certificate of conviction and sentence. If the court is not satisfied on these issues it must order the person’s discharge.

  The Secretary of State has authority to designate countries for the purposes of the Extradition Act 2003.

  Countries can be designated so that they are not required to produce "evidence which would be sufficient to make a case requiring an answer by the person if the proceedings were summary proceedings in respect of an offence alleged to have been committed by the person (except that for this purpose evidence from a single source shall be sufficient)." If the country is not so designated then evidence is required to be produced.

  All offences alleged to be committed in a Part 2 territory require to satisfy the dual criminality test. If they do not, the court must order the person’s discharge.

Extradition Act 2003

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any power to grant extradition orders under the terms of the Extradition Act 2003.

Kenny MacAskill: Under Section 93 of the Extradition Act 2003, the Scottish Ministers have a statutory duty, in certain specified circumstances, to Order extradition. If the relevant conditions for extradition aren’t met the Scottish ministers have a duty to discharge the person.

Extradition Act 2003

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any functions under the Extradition Act 2003 have been transferred to Scottish ministers.

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any functions were transferred to Scottish ministers as a result of the Sewel motion, S1M-3608, agreed by the Parliament on 21 November 2002.

Kenny MacAskill: Yes. Sewel motion S1M-3608 consented to the conferral on the Scottish Ministers of executive functions in relation to extraditions to and from Scotland. The functions in question are contained in Part 2 of the Extradition Act 2003 and relate mainly to extradition requests made by certain designated, non-EU countries ("category 2 territories"). An example of the Scottish ministers’ functions under the 2003 act can be found at section 93 (Secretary of State’s consideration of the case) which has to be read in conjunction with section 141 (Scotland: references to the Secretary of State). Following the receipt of an appropriately made request and the consideration of certain prescribed factors by the sheriff at Lothian and Borders, section 93 provides, among other things, that the Scottish ministers must decide whether or not they are prohibited from ordering a person’s extradition by virtue of the factors listed in section 93(2) and more fully detailed in sections 94 (death penalty), 95 (speciality), 96 (earlier extradition to the United Kingdom from another territory) and 96A (earlier transfer to the United Kingdom from the International Criminal Court). If the Scottish ministers decide these questions in the negative they must order the person to be extradited unless any of paragraphs (a) to (c) of section 93(4) apply.

  The motion and further details can be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/Sewel/FirstSession/Extradition.

Ferry Services

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in re-establishing a ferry service between Campbeltown and Ballycastle.

Stewart Stevenson: Ministers in Scotland and Northern Ireland met in November 2008 to discuss the way forward and agreed that further consideration should be given to proceeding with a joint Campbeltown to Ballycastle service tender.

  Scottish Government officials, in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Executive, are currently in the process of preparing a joint paper, with detailed options for ministers to consider.

  A decision is expected within the next month.

First Minister

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what official Christmas gifts have been received by the First Minister and how each one has been disposed of.

John Swinney: The First Minister received four Christmas gifts in 2008. In line with Section 9.26 of the Ministerial Code the Scottish Government is required to publish information on gifts valued at more than £140. As the four Christmas gifts received by the First Minister in 2008 were valued at less than £140, no details are held.

Fish

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a code of good practice on the siting of fin fish farm cages in (a) salt and (b) fresh water.

Michael Russell: The industry’s own Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture contains recommendations on the siting of fish farms. In addition, the Environmental Impact Assessment Practical Guidelines Toolkit for Marine Fish Farming contains at Annex G guidance on potential impacts arising from marine fish farming and their assessment, and Scottish Planning Policy 22 provides guidance on particular factors to be taken into account when considering proposals for siting of fish farms.

Fish

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a code of good practice or regulation exists on how long fin fish cages can be used on a single site without being moved in (a) salt and (b) fresh water.

Michael Russell: No such provision or regulation exists. The industry’s own Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture contains recommendations on site fallowing across given areas which are designed to manage sea lice numbers and disease.

Fish

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its review of aquaculture will consider the appropriateness of existing fin fish farm sites in relation to the impact that they may have had on wild fish populations in (a) salt and (b) fresh water.

Richard Lochhead: Scottish Aquaculture: A Fresh Start,  the consultation on the renewed strategic framework for Scottish aquaculture, sought views on the Scottish Government’s approach to planning, consents and sites for aquaculture. It pointed out that new or modified finfish developments are subject to Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations. On expiry of leases existing marine farms will be subject to an audit or review process to ensure that requirements of European Directives are not compromised.

  The consultation on Scottish Aquaculture: A Fresh Start is now closed, the renewed strategic framework will be published in the spring.

Fish

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the recent outbreak of infectious salmon anaemia in Shetland, whether farmed salmon can legally be moved from one management area to another and, if so, what safeguards are in place regarding biosecurity.

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the legal provisions are for safeguarding biosecurity when farmed salmon are moved from one management area to another and what body is responsible for monitoring compliance with these provisions.

Richard Lochhead: Movement of farmed salmon between management areas is currently not regulated unless movement controls have been applied because of the presence of notifiable disease such as infectious salmon anaemia. Biosecurity safeguards for consented movements will be applied by the Fisheries Research Services Aberdeen and they will be based on those in the industry Code of Good Practice.

  Legislation will soon be introduced to regulate movements of live fish between management areas as a safeguard against the spread of latent infection.

Fish

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what legislation covers the importation of live salmon and rainbow trout smolts from Scandinavia.

Richard Lochhead: Trade in live fish in the European Union is regulated by Council Directive 2006/88/EC on animal health requirements for aquaculture animals and products thereof and on the prevention and control of certain diseases in aquatic animals. Trade is permitted only where the fish health status of the exporting area is equal to or greater than the importing area.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that it is appropriate for a patient who has diarrhoea to be discharged to (a) home or (b) a household where there is a vulnerable person.

Nicola Sturgeon: It would not be appropriate for me to comment on individual cases. Decisions on the fitness of patients to be discharged are made by clinicians on the basis of their own clinical judgement and on a case-by-case basis.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has set aside funding to facilitate a public inquiry into the outbreak of Clostridium difficile and, if so, how much.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive from which budget head funding for a public inquiry into the outbreak of Clostridium difficile would be drawn.

Nicola Sturgeon: There is an on-going Procurator Fiscal investigation into the tragic deaths from Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital. The area procurator fiscal for Argyll and Clyde has asked Strathclyde Police and the Health and Safety Executive to conduct parallel investigations and report back to him as quickly as possible. It will then be for the area procurator fiscal to determine whether any further inquiries are required before he submits his report for consideration to Crown Counsel. I will return to Parliament to make a statement once the area procurator fiscal’s investigations are complete and the views of Crown Counsel are known.

Homecoming Scotland

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the advertising campaign for Homecoming Scotland 2009.

Jim Mather: Scottish Government is committed to the effective marketing of Homecoming Scotland 2009 and are continually reviewing the advertising of this initiative. There are already indicators that the advertising targeted at domestic visitors and in 40 countries around the world is working well:

  More than one million people engaging with VisitScotland per month through visiting the suite of websites and receiving the e-newsletters are exposed to the Homecoming message.

  The Homecoming Scotland websites have attracted over 340,000 user sessions to date (end December 2008). Over the span of Homecoming we expect 25 million people to have used these sites. homecomingscotland2009.com and homecomingscotland.com.

  In the month of November, the peak of VisitScotland’s autumn long-haul "I am a Scot" campaign, the two principal websites alone attracted 100,000 user enquiries, equating to one visitor every 35 seconds.

  The Homecoming "Caledonia" advert was seen by three million Scots (60 per cent of the population) when it premiered on TV in November and in Scotland the evidence of awareness is emphatic, with a You Gov poll in early December 2008 showing that 66% of Scottish people are aware of Homecoming.

Homecoming Scotland

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with representatives of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office regarding Homecoming Scotland 2009.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has had discussions regarding Homecoming Scotland 2009 with the Stakeholder Engagement Team at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Officials there have received a core briefing pack on Homecoming and were sent copies of the new Events Guide shortly after it was launched by the First Minister and opposition party leaders on 18 December 2008. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office are also promoting Homecoming by placing a link to the Homecoming website on 150 in-country post websites.

Homecoming Scotland

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with UK ministers with responsibility for tourism regarding Homecoming Scotland 2009.

Jim Mather: I met with the UK Minster for Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism in March 2008 and discussed the plans for Homecoming and other general tourism matters.

Homecoming Scotland

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with VisitBritain regarding Homecoming Scotland 2009.

Jim Mather: VisitScotland staff are in regular contact with staff at VisitBritain and, as a result, VisitScotland’s own Homecoming promotion is being significantly extended through collaboration with VisitBritain who are actively promoting Homecoming through their offices worldwide with websites, e-comms and PR and trade activity. This includes a significant presence for Homecoming across the VisitBritain network of 40 country market sites which are translated in 19 languages from Russian to Mandarin and Japanese, and which attract 10 million users. In addition, the VisitBritain global PR Conference in 2008 was themed around Homecoming and trade events across the globe have used Homecoming as their main theme.

  Formal activity plans were agreed between VisitScotland and VisitBritain in 2008 and the delivery against these plans is being closely monitored by VisitScotland.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to pilot a knife-crime text hotline similar to that being run in Lancashire schools by Lancashire Constabulary and Crimestoppers with the aim of encouraging the anonymous reporting of young people who pupils believe may be carrying knives, as reported on BBC News Online on 14 January 2009.

Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19797 on 27 January 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliaments website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has identified any knife-crime hot spots and what action it is taking to ensure that they are being addressed locally.

Kenny MacAskill: Our partners in police forces and local authorities identify the areas that are most affected by knife crime and are taking action through the Violence Reduction Unit’s on-going anti-violence campaign to tackle the problem. In addition, we also support them in addressing this issue through initiatives such as Medics Against Violence and the Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV), which are being delivered in areas that are directly affected by knife crime. I refer the Member to the answer to question S3W-19797 on 27 January 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliaments website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Justice

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were arrested for drug-driving offences in the south of Scotland and how many of these were (a) first-time and (b) repeat offenders in each of the last five years for which information is available, broken down by police force.

Kenny MacAskill: Figures for driving convictions involving drugs alone are not available.

  For data on drink/drug-driving offences I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19813 on 28 January 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Justice

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people caught by police with (a) knives and (b) other weapons in the Lothians region were (i) repeat and (ii) first-time offenders in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table, knives cannot be identified separately from other types of weapons.

  Persons1 with a Charge Proved in 2002-03 to 2006-07 for Possession of a Knife or Offensive Weapon2: Breakdown by Approximate Local Authority Area3 and whether or Not First-Time Offenders4

  

 Year / local authority
 Number of all Offenders
 Percentage First-Time Offenders4
 Percentage Repeat Offenders4


 2002-03
 
 
 


 East Lothian 
 25
 88
 12


 Edinburgh, City of 
 184
 78
 22


 West Lothian 
 64
 86
 14


 Lothians
 273
 81
 19


 2003-04
 
 
 


 East Lothian 
 16
 88
 12


 Edinburgh, City of 
 199
 81
 19


 West Lothian 
 35
 91
 9


 Lothians
 250
 83
 17


 2004-05
 
 
 


 East Lothian 
 15
 73
 27


 Edinburgh, City of 
 230
 83
 17


 West Lothian 
 40
 83
 17


 Lothians
 285
 83
 17


 2005-06
 
 
 


 East Lothian 
 11
 82
 18


 Edinburgh, City of 
 221
 82
 18


 West Lothian 
 29
 90
 10


 Lothians
 261
 83
 17


 2006-07
 
 
 


 East Lothian 
 22
 95
 5


 Edinburgh, City of 
 268
 80
 20


 West Lothian 
 67
 91
 9


 Lothians
 357
 83
 17



  Notes:

  1. Each person who was convicted of such an offence in each financial year is counted only once.

  2. Where main offence.

  3. Incorporates an approximate mapping of sheriff courts into local authority areas. Some sheriff courts will deal with cases from more than one local authority area. Midlothian does not contain a sheriff court.

  4. "First-time offenders" relates to those individuals who were sentenced on one occasion for an offence of this type in the financial year considered and had no other convictions for an offences of this type in the last 10 years (e.g. 1997-98 to 2006-07 for the year 2006-07). "Repeat offenders" contains everyone whose most recent conviction in the financial year considered was not the only one of this type they had committed in the last 10 years. Repeat offenders are identified by their offender reference number; note that the ability to record and maintain unique reference numbers over time has increased over the last 10 years.

Justice

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision is made in the 2009-10 budget for supporting community sentences in light of the proposals in Protecting Scotland’s Communities: Fair, Fast and Flexible Justice .

Kenny MacAskill: A total baseload allocation of £15,425,618 has been made to the Community Justice Authorities for supporting community sentences in 2009-10. This represents an increase of £2 million to support increased workload and to ensure the immediacy and speed of completion of sentences.

Less Favoured Areas

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that the next round of Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) payments and single farm payments can be made in 2009.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any assessment of the potential benefits for farmers and crofters from the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) payment and the single farm payment being made in the same year.

Richard Lochhead: As the member is aware, I recently wrote to him and explained that my officials are already looking carefully at what is possible in terms of improving the position on the issue of payments - including the feasibility of combining, or paying in parallel, the SFPS and LFASS payments. This would need to be done in a way that avoids compromising key payment and delivery targets, and without delaying payments to individual farmers under either scheme.

Less Favoured Areas

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the European Commission on the possibility of making the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) payment and the single farm payment in the same year.

Richard Lochhead: Provided the EC’s legislative pre-payment conditions are met, and audit requirements observed, there is no need to discuss with the EC what is essentially an operational issue.

Lone Parents

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18578 by Fiona Hyslop on the 22 December 2008, how many students received the (a) Lone Parent’s Grant and (b) Lone Parent’s Childcare Grant in the last academic year for which figures are available, broken down by income.

Fiona Hyslop: The following table shows the number of higher education students who received Lone Parent’s Grant and the number who received Lone Parent’s Childcare Grant in academic year 2007-08 broken down by parental/spousal income.

  

 Income
 Number of Students receiving Lone Parent’s Grant
 Number of Students Receiving Lone Parent’s Childcare Grant


< £10k
 40
 25


£10,000 - £19,999
 45
 25


£20,000 - £29,999
 30
 20


£30,000 and above
 10
 30


 Income not declared/required
 15
 5


 Exempt from Parental/Spousal Contribution
 2,775
 1,275


 Total
 2,920
 1,375



  Source: Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) academic year 2007-08.

  Student numbers have been rounded up or down to the nearest five.

  Income bands are based on residual parental or, in the case of students who are married or in a civil partnership, spousal income. This is income after deductions allowed by SAAS have been subtracted.

  Lone Parent’s Grant is available on an income assessed basis to students who are single, widowed, divorced or no longer living with a partner and are bringing up children. An additional grant, Lone Parent’s Childcare Grant, is available to recipients of Lone Parent’s Grant who have to pay for registered or formal child care.

Marches

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many responses it has received to its consultation on marches and parades.

Kenny MacAskill: The consultation into marches and parades in Scotland received 25 responses.

Marches

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reasons it has not published responses to its consultation on marches and parades and when it will do so.

Kenny MacAskill: Nineteen responses to the consultation into marches and parades in Scotland were published in the Scottish Government library on 12 November. Six respondents withheld permission for their responses to be made public.

Planning

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can intervene in a local authority planning decision on a retrospective application to install double glazing.

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can intervene in a local authority decision to grant planning permission for white uPVC windows in an area where planning policy has deemed this to be inappropriate.

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action members of the public can take if they object to planning permission being granted for white uPVC windows in an area where local planning policy has deemed this to be inappropriate.

Stewart Stevenson: Objections to applications for planning permission should be made to the planning authority. It is for the planning authority to reach a decision on planning applications and in doing so they are required to make decisions in line with the development plan for the area unless material considerations indicate otherwise. It is for the planning authority to decide what weight to give to objections from the public, along with any other considerations which might be material, when determining an application.

  There is no further planning procedure for objectors to challenge a decision once it has been issued by the planning authority. It would be for the objectors to consider taking legal advice for example on what avenues may be open to them in the circumstances of the case.

  The Scottish Government has no powers to intervene once a local authority has made and issued its decision on a planning application. Scottish ministers do hold powers to call in any live planning application for their own determination, but would consider doing so only where a proposed development raises issues of genuine national interest.

  These same powers and policy on their use apply in relation to applications for retrospective planning permission.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding mechanism will be used in each of the new capital projects under the responsibility of the Scottish Police Services Authority.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Police Services Authority receives funding in the form of Grant-In-Aid from the Scottish Government. This Grant-In-Aid funds both capital projects and revenue expenditure.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which police forces have piloted the use of head or body-mounted cameras.

Kenny MacAskill: Strathclyde, Tayside, Grampian and the British Transport Police have piloted the use of head or body-mounted cameras. Central Scotland police is also actively progressing a pilot scheme.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the use of head or body-mounted cameras by the police has the potential to improve significantly the quality of evidence provided by police officers and increase the proportion of offenders brought to justice.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is awaiting with interest the evaluation of the pilot schemes currently taking place within Scottish forces, and is also aware of the pilot carried out in Devon and Cornwall Constabulary. Scottish forces have not yet used the cameras to provide evidence to Scottish Courts so it is too early to say whether the use of such equipment will improve significantly the quality of evidence provided by police officers and increase the proportion of offenders brought to justice.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the use of head or body-mounted cameras by the police has the potential to act as a preventative tool in reducing the incidence of crime.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is awaiting with interest the evaluation of the pilot schemes currently taking place within Scottish forces, and is also aware of the pilot carried out in Devon and Cornwall Constabulary. It is too early to say if the use of such equipment will act as a preventative tool in reducing the incidence of crime.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to provide additional funding to assist in the roll-out of head or body-mounted cameras to all police forces.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is awaiting with interest the evaluation of the pilot schemes currently taking place within Scottish forces. If the pilots are successful, the Scottish Government will consider, with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS), whether the use of the technology should be expanded.

Police

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the approximate cost is of purchasing a single head or body-mounted camera for use by the police.

Kenny MacAskill: The head and body camera systems being piloted by Scottish police forces have a cost of approximately £600 to £700 per unit.

Prison Service

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many convicted prisoners have not received visitors in the last (a) six months, (b) year, (c) two years, (d) three years and (e) five years or more.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The SPS does not currently hold this data. However, we have developed a national visits administration system which is currently being introduced across the estate.

Prison Service

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners travelled from prison to attend appointments at (a) out-patient and (b) accident and emergency departments in 2007-08.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  (a) The number of prisoners who have travelled from prison to attend appointments at out-patient departments from May 2007 to April 2008 is 5,683.

  (b) This information is not centrally held and cannot be easily obtained.

Prison Service

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has estimated the cost of sending a prisoner to a hospital appointment and whether this varies depending on the category of prisoner.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  Escorts are not paid for individually and therefore do not vary depending on the category of prisoner. Charges for the movement of prisoners are linked to the total number of escorts carried out. Details as to how the costs are structured are outlined in Schedule 4 of the contract which is published on the SPS website at www.sps.gov.uk/keydocs/contracts.

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to review the screening of prisoners for autism.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) does not currently routinely screen prisoners for autistic spectrum disorder.

  The SPS is assisting the University of Edinburgh and the charity Research Autism in their project to test the validity of a new screening instrument for autistic spectrum disorder in a number of establishments.

  Further, the SPS has reviewed its service provision for learning disability and difficulties and is seeking to implement an improved alerting process to identify such people in custody. We intend to achieve this through improvements in use of available information and broadening the routes into assessment and care pathways.

Prison Service

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of prisoners it estimates to (a) have or (b) have had an alcohol problem.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The 2008 prisoner survey indicates that 49% of prisoners responding say that they were drunk at the time of their offence.

Prison Service

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18896 by Kenny MacAskill on 9 January 2009, how many prisoners benefited from the Substance Related Offending Behaviour Programme in 2007-08, broken down by prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  A total of 16 prisoners completed the Substance Related Offending Behaviour Programme (SROBP) in 2007-08, eight completed the programme in HMP Aberdeen and a further eight completed it in HMP Shotts.

  This was the first year that the programme had been introduced. Delivery was restricted to these sites to pilot and "road-test" the programme to inform any necessary changes. The SROBP has subsequently been rolled out to a further five prisons in 2008-09: Glenochil, Cornton Vale, Polmont, Edinburgh and Barlinnie.

Prison Service

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18896 by Kenny MacAskill on 9 January 2009, how many prisoners were assessed as suitable for the Substance Related Offending Behaviour Programme in 2007-08, broken down by prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Substance Related Offending Behaviour Programme (SROBP) was piloted during 2007-08 at two sites, HM Prisons Aberdeen and Shotts.

  This was the first year that the programme had been introduced. Delivery was restricted to these sites to pilot and "road-test" the programme to inform any necessary changes. Consequently there was no systematic assessment process in place during that year to generate lists of those suitable for participation.

  The SROBP has subsequently been rolled out to a further five prisons in 2008-09: Glenochil, Cornton Vale, Polmont, Edinburgh and Barlinnie.

Prison Service

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19592 by Kenny MacAskill on 19 January 2009, how many prisoners were assessed as suitable for approved activity Alcohol Awareness in 2007-08.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Alcohol-related issues may surface during induction interviews. Providing the prisoner is prepared to engage he/she will be referred for participation on Alcohol Awareness. Attendance is then prioritised using liberation dates to allow participation prior to release where possible.

  A referral list of those suitable is constantly changing throughout the year with short-term prisoner turnover, numbers assessed as suitable for Alcohol Awareness are not available.

Prison Service

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19588 by Kenny MacAskill on 19 January 2009, how many offenders were (a) assessed as suitable for and (b) completed each of the prisoner programmes and approved activities that address substance misuse in 2007-08, broken down by prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  A total of 1,061 substance related programmes or approved activities were completed in Scottish prisons during 2007-08. This was 181 completions above the target of 880 set at the beginning of the year. The following table provides details.

  SPS delivers a suite of Programmes and Approved Activities that address substance misuse issues which is continually evolving to keep pace with current practice and changes in substance abuse trends in the community. For example, the delivery of Lifeline concluded in 2007-08 as it was being replaced by the Substance Related Offending Behaviour Programme (SROBP) which was piloted that year.

  These interventions range from basic awareness sessions to programmes aimed at addressing criminogenic need. This reflects the range of potential clients from those serving short sentences to those with long sentences with associated offences. The duration of these interventions also reflects what each is trying to achieve ranging from 16 hours for Alcohol Awareness to approximately 120 hours for SROBP.

  The assessment processes are similarly diverse, for example:

  Alcohol Awareness – alcohol-related issues may surface during induction interviews. Providing the prisoner is prepared to engage he/she will be referred for participation on Alcohol Awareness. Attendance is then prioritised using liberation dates to allow participation prior to release where possible. The referral list of those suitable is therefore constantly changing throughout the year with short-term prisoner turnover.

  SROBP - has a more complicated and sophisticated selection process, including a file review, interview and multi-disciplinary discussion.

  As waiting lists change throughout the year due to prisoner turnover the numbers assessed as suitable for each intervention is not available.

  Table: Substance Related Interventions – Delivery 2007-08

  

Prison
 Programme/Approved Activity
 No. Completed


 Aberdeen
 Substance Related Offending Behaviour Prog. (pilot)
 8


 
 Alcohol Awareness
 35


 
 First Step
 19


 Barlinnie
 Lifeline
 14


 
 Alcohol Awareness
 25


 
 First Step
 63


 Cornton Vale
 Alcohol Awareness
 18


 
 Drugs – Action for Change
 64


 
 Parenting for Mothers with Substance Abuse Problems
 13


 Dumfries
 First Step
 26


 Edinburgh
 Alcohol Awareness
 47


 
 Drugs – Action for Change
 41


 Glenochil
 Lifeline
 24


 
 Alcohol Awareness
 19


 
 First Step
 10


 Greenock
 Alcohol Awareness
 52


 
 Drugs – Action for Change
 46


 Inverness
 Alcohol Awareness
 11


 
 Drugs – Action for Change
 5


 
 Smart Recovery
 40


 Kilmarnock
 Advanced Drug Awareness
 76


 
 Over-comers
 41


 Open Estate
 Alcohol Awareness
 0


 
 Smart Recovery
 77


 Perth
 Alcohol Awareness
 49


 
 First Step
 18


 Peterhead
 Alcohol Awareness
 39


 Polmont
 Alcohol Awareness
 60


 
 First Step
 33


 Shotts
 Substance Related Offending Behaviour Prog. (pilot)
 8


 
 Alcohol Awareness
 47


 
 Smart Recovery
 33


 Total
 
 1,061

Roads

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that the existing A96 trunk road through Elgin is an adequate trunk road for current circumstances and for the projected traffic growth.

Stewart Stevenson: The recently published Strategic Transport Projects Review has recommended 29 nationally strategic transport interventions over the next 20 years that will let us plan for the delivery of an efficient, integrated transport network fit for the 21st century.

  Transport Scotland continually monitors the trunk road network to ensure that it is operating effectively at a local level. However, as with other parts of the network, during week day peak periods congestion can occur on the A96.

Roads

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the traffic growth forecasts are for the A96 through Elgin for the period up to 2020.

Stewart Stevenson: The Strategic Transport Projects Review used a number of data sources to help inform the Review, one of which was the Transport Model for Scotland (TMfS). The reports, which are available on the Transport Scotland website, indicate that TMfS predicts that for the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness there will be a 26% increase in total trips between 2005 and 2022.

  The current annual average daily traffic levels can be up to approximately 35,000 vehicles in the dual carriageway sections of the A96 near Inverness and Aberdeen, and drop to approximately 7,000 vehicles in the middle of the corridor on the single carriageway sections.

Roads

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set out its reasons for not including the Elgin bypass as a priority project for completion in the Strategic Transport Projects Review.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the advice Scottish ministers received on the case for an Elgin bypass as a priority project in the Strategic Transport Projects Review.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19432 on 19 January 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Scottish Enterprise

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much Scottish Enterprise has spent on public relations and public affairs over the last two years.

Jim Mather: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask its chief executive to write to you in this regard.

Skills Strategy

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17274 by Fiona Hyslop on 6 November 2008, on what date the updated skills strategy will be published.

Fiona Hyslop: The Skills Strategy update is due to be made available in February.

Smoking

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has assessed the economic impact on small retailers of the proposed tobacco display ban and when the regulatory impact assessment will be published.

Shona Robison: A full and rigorous regulatory impact assessment (RIA) is being undertaken to assess the economic impact of legislative proposals set out in Scotland’s Future is Smoke-free , including proposals to further restrict the display of tobacco products. Retailing interests have had full opportunity to feed into the RIA and the Scottish Government will continue to engage with retailers to ensure that the impact on business is kept to a minimum. The RIA will be published alongside the forthcoming Health (Scotland) Bill. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/05/19144342/0/ .

Smoking

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how the proposed tobacco display ban and any implications that it has for small retailers fits with the Scottish Government’s intention to support businesses and high streets and the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in a press release on 19 November 2008 that Scotland’s town and city centres are the "heartbeat of our economy".

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to a vibrant small business sector and is doing a great deal to support the small business sector in Scotland through, for example, reduced business rates under the Small Business Bonus Scheme, which will save millions for Scotland’s small businesses.

  Whilst there can be no compromise on protecting children and young people from cancer, heart disease and other smoking-related illnesses, we have given tobacco retailers full opportunity to feed into a regulatory impact assessment on the proposed tobacco display ban and the Scottish Government will continue to engage with retailers to ensure that there is the minimum impact on business.

Smoking

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered evidence from Canada and Iceland showing that tobacco display bans do not reduce the consumption of tobacco products.

Shona Robison: A full and rigorous regulatory impact assessment (RIA) is being conducted to assess the economic impact and health benefits of legislative proposals set out in Scotland’s Future is Smoke-free . This will be published alongside the forthcoming Health (Scotland) Bill. Evidence from countries that have implemented proposed measures has formed part of this assessment. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/05/19144342/0/ .

Smoking

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide information regarding its collaboration with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to reduce the impact of illicit sales of tobacco products.

Shona Robison: The proposed collaboration with HMRC/the UK Border Agency to tackle illicit sales of tobacco forms part of the comprehensive programme of measures contained in the Smoking Prevention Action Plan Scotland’s Future is Smoke-free  which was launched in May 2008. As set out in the Action Plan, specific measures relating to illicit sales of tobacco will be included in the proposed scheme to secure more rigorous enforcement of tobacco sales law which is being developed in partnership with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland. Discussions which have taken place with HMRC/the UK Border Agency in this respect have been extremely constructive and details of the specific agreements reached will be announced shortly as part of the launch of the proposed Enhanced Tobacco Sales Enforcement Programme.

Smoking

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has to suggest that a ban on the sale of packets of 10 cigarettes will reduce smoking levels.

Shona Robison: A full and rigorous regulatory impact assessment (RIA) is being conducted to assess the economic impact and the health benefits of legislative proposals set out in Scotland’s Future is Smoke-free , including the commitment to consider issues arising from the sale of cigarettes in packets of less than 20. The RIA will be published alongside the forthcoming Health (Scotland) Bill. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/05/19144342/0/ .

Sport

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Highlands and Islands Enterprise regarding the withdrawal of funding for the eight local sports councils in the Highland Council area.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government engaged closely with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) as part of the process of reforming the organisation. As a result of these reforms, HIE’s resources are focused on those interventions that will have the maximum impact on the government’s purpose of increasing sustainable economic growth.

  No specific discussions regarding the withdrawal of funding to local sports councils have taken place with HIE. This is clearly an operational matter for HIE.

Sport

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the withdrawal of funding for local sports councils in the Highland Council area, whether alternative sources of funding have been determined between it, Highlands and Islands Enterprise or other local agencies to ensure the continuation of these sports councils.

Jim Mather: While Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) no longer provides generic funding to local area sports councils in the Highland Council area, any individual sports club able to make a persuasive case for growth and which would contribute to the objectives of GES would be welcome to approach HIE. In other cases, HIE staff will continue to provide positive referrals to alternative sources of funding, such as the lottery, local authorities, and the grant giving charitable sector.

  Where appropriate, referrals would also be made to sportscotland, where there are processes in place for any local sports council to make an application for funding, which would be handled accordingly.

Student Finance

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) independent and (b) mature students would benefit if the Young Students’ Bursary scheme were extended to these groups using its current income thresholds.

Fiona Hyslop: In academic year 2007-08, 20,475 independent full-time Scottish domiciled undergraduate and post graduate diploma in education students studying in Scotland received support from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). Six hundred and twenty-five of these students already received Young Students Bursary (YSB).

  Of the remaining 19,845 students, 2,605 had declared benefactor income which was below the threshold for YSB. In addition 16,430 of these students were assessed as exempt from parental or spousal contributions to their support and therefore benefactor income details were not provided to SAAS. There are no income details for a further 350 of these students, either because they have not declared income or because their income is extremely low.

  If we assume that everyone in these three groups would be entitled under an extended Young Student’s Bursary scheme, a maximum total of 19,385 students would benefit. 14,885 of these students would be considered ‘mature’ i.e. aged 25 or over.

  The estimated number who benefit may be lower if the income of partners was taken into consideration as was introduced with the new means testing rules for higher education student support in academic year 2008-09. In 2007-08, the income of partners was not included in the means test for student support.

Student Finance

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19187 by Fiona Hyslop on 9 January 2009, whether students in the (a) exempt from parental/spousal contribution and (b) income not declared/required category would receive full means-tested support.

Fiona Hyslop: (a) It is not possible to say if all the students in the exempt from parental/spousal contribution would be eligible to receive full means-tested support if bursary support was extended to independent students using the current income thresholds. The answer to question S3W-19187 on 23 January 2009 provided details of the number of independent student supported by SAAS in 2007-08 by age and residual income. However, these figures may be lower when the income of partners is taken into consideration as was introduced through the new means testing rules for higher education student support introduced in academic year 2008-09. In 2007-08, the income of partners was not included in the means test for student support.

  (b) Under current rules SAAS are able to assess the support entitlement of some categories of students without the need for them to provide a detailed income statement. These students are shown in the income not declared / required category as answered in S3W-19187. It is therefore not possible to say how many of them would receive full means-tested support under a revised student support policy, because we don’t hold any records of their income at present.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Transport

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much will be allocated to improve transport links between North Ayrshire and Glasgow in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011.

Stewart Stevenson: The amounts allocated for improvements to both road and rail links are as follows:

  

 2009-10
£2.44 million


 2010-11
£6.29 million


 2011-12
£23.05 million